Re: Official 2012-13 Miami Season Thread: Baby boom!
I agree to an extent, but from the two home games I have been able to get to this season, the one saving grace is that the student section appears to be full well before the game starts. Last season (my senior year), student attendance seemed patchy to say the least. We would fill up the barn for OSU or UM, but for a low-enthusiasm conference game the place would be 75% full on a good day, and that's after the first period.
So yea, the current students could use a bit of an enthusiasm boost, but at least they are showing up in better numbers (based on nothing more than personal observation).
I think that the attendance this year has been much better because of our home record. Last year we lost our opener to Bemidji and that didn't do any good in retaining first time attendees.
The game day atmosphere has been on a steady decline since the graduation of the 09, 10 and 11 classes. There is a desperate need for innovation in the student section and the whole game day operations. It gets so repetitive. Same chants, same arena songs, same everything. I might as well use this post to make all my suggestions.
1. Get rid of the Red Alert Priority seating. In fact, get rid of Red Alert. Red Alert does have some of the most passionate fans but they are a useless organization. It drives me crazy when there are empty balcony seats and people leave games because of the lack of seating. Seriously, what good does the organization do? What is the point of the club?
2. Make a new organization specific for hockey. Goggin should be the toughest place to play in the country. How many other schools have the students right on the glass? Blue line to Blue line? I've never seen a similar construction. A little organization could go a long way for getting under other teams skin. Find out personal things about the goalie, taunt him, make signs etc..
3. GET RID OF THE SEXUAL INNUENDO CHEERS. We're not in ****ing middle school.
4. I ****ing hate the frat bro's. Not all members of the greek community because I know many of them that come to games and are normal human beings. The ones I am talking about show up 20 minutes before puck drop and feel like the are entitled to the best seats because it's their annual event. They dress like its an alabama football game and make it a point not to wear any school colors because school spirit isn't frat. They don't stand during the game because that would mean that are part of the student body and then they leave in the middle of the second period... I should organize thousands of people to go to POTH and obnoxiously leave during the middle of the most important part.
I could go on but Goggin should be the toughest place to play in the country. Right now, student interest is high but if they are not a fan of the sport there is absolutely nothing to engage them. Maybe the new athletic director will make student engagement a priority.
